DK Travel : Scotland : History & Culture

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Blair Castle

Seat of the Duke of Atholl, the only man in Britain still allowed a private army, this stately white castle is an arresting sight on the main road north. The oldest part dates from 1269, but after damage during the Jacobite campaigns it was completely restyled and all the turrets added.
Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park

As if elephants, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, lions, meercats and ring-tailed lemurs weren’t enough, you can also see your first lechwe (unless, of course, you’re already au fait with these African antelopes). Beyond the animal life, this is also a terrific play centre, with a giant Astraglide, a Flying Fox and pedalos for getting to Chimpanzee Island.
Borders Rugby Sevens

Skill, passion and mud. In rugby’s heartland, each border town takes a day as host (Apr/May).
Botanical Gardens

Positively bulging with greenery and colour, these gardens are a favourite with locals and visitors alike. The highlights are the glasshouses – the main structure named Kibble Palace – famous for their orchids and tropicana (see Botanical Gardens, Glasgow) .
Brodick Castle, Arran

Originally a Viking keep before the Dukes of Hamilton claimed it, this 13th-century fortified tower was extended by Oliver Cromwell and then transformed into a stately home in Victorian times. The last Hamilton moved out only in 1957. A solid red sandstone building with fanciful trimmings, it contains a noted collection of silver, porcelain and paintings. The gardens are beautifully maintained (try to catch the rhododendrons in spring bloom), as are the woodland trails. The main ferry to Arran (just under an hour) is from Ardrossan, on the mainland coast, just north of Irvine.
Burrell Collection and Pollok Park

One of the world’s great private collections, this is a dazzling and eclectic array of art and artifacts. The presentation is superb in a purpose-designed building surrounded by a wooded parkland. This is the best of the bunch in Glasgow (see Burrell Collection and Pollok Park) .
Caerlaverock Castle

This massive triangle of crafted stone, still standing within a filled moat, is exceptional. Its towers and walls are remarkably complete, despite having lain in ruin for 400 years (see Caerlaverock Castle) .
Caerlaverock Castle

A triangular ruin with immense towers, Caerlaverock still sits within a filled moat. Its history spans a siege by Edward I in 1300 and a luxurious upgrading shortly before its fall in 1640. Its yellow sandstone walls glow beautifully pink and orange in the afternoon light (see Caerlaverock Castle) .
Calton Hill

Rising above the town, Calton Hill is crowned by a gathering of Classical buildings: the Pantheon-like National Monument for the dead of the Napoleonic Wars, the Nelson Monument, commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar and the Old City Observatory.
Cawdor Castle

Whether or not the real Macbeth lived here in the 11th century, it’s the sort of make-believe castle to satisfy all your Shakespearean expectations. Utterly magical with its original keep (1454), a drawbridge, ancient yew tree and enough weapons to start an uprising. The garden and estate are equally enchanting and there’s even a maze (see Cawdor Castle) .